Improvement in reservoirs for water-works



2 Sheets-Sheet l'.

vw. wmnnlson.- ARsgrvnirs for Water Works. No.158,386.

Patented Jan. 5, |875'.

THE GFAPHIC CD. PH010'LlTH.39& Irl PRK PLACE, N-Y. I

' 2 Sheets--Sheiet 2.

wf H. Munalsou.

Reservorsfor Water Works. N0.\58,386. Patentedlan.5,l875.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETGE.

WILLIAM HENRY MORRISON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN RESERVOIRS FOR WATER-WORKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,386, dated January 5, 1875; application lled October 1, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WM. HENRY MORRISON, of Indianapolis, Marion county, in the State of Indiana, have invented certain Improvements in Reservoirs for Water-Works, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to secure a more uniform, continuous, and sure supply of water, under a more even pressure, than is attained by the systems of supply now in use, where there is not a sufficient head of water to furnish of itself adequate pressure at all times.

In the two accompanying sheets of drawings, Figures l and 2 show the reservoir B and its cap A, and Fig. 3 shows a system of such reservoirs, B B B, connected with the water-pipes at different points. Fig. 4 is a modiiication.

The reservoir B is made of boiler-iron, similar to a steanrengine boiler, or of any material which will stand the needed pressure. The reservoir B is placed under ground, surrounded with earth, or by a brick or stone wall, except that a suflicient space is left to allovvr the sliding watergates M and O to be moved vertically. The tube T is connected by ordinary water-pipes with the main pipes, and when the sliding gate M is raised the water enters the4 reservoir B through the orice D. L L are the guides in which M works. The man-hole C is opened or closed air-tight at pleasure by the slide H, which works in the guides F F. The tube X is connected with ordinary waterpipes, leading to the surface of the ground, and the water passing through the orifice E into said water-pipes, when the sliding watergate O is raised, is conveyed by them to the surface of the ground, ready lfor use in extinguishing fires, or for other purposes where much pressure is needed. The sliding gate O works in the guides P P. Z is an ordinary stop-cock, connected with the interior of the reservoir B, this stop-cock being opened or closed at pleasure.

The mode in which the reservoir B is intended to operate is this: The man-hole O being closed air-tight bythe slide H, the stopcock Z being also closed, and the orice E being closed by the sliding gate O, the water from the main waterepipes is allowed to enter the orifice D and pass into the reservoir B.

Now, supposing the pressure upon the water in the main water-pipes to be at its maximum, the Water in the reservoir B will lill its lower part, and the compressed air in B will occupy the upper part of said reservoir. The connection between the water in B and the main water-pipes may now be continued or out off by shutting down the gate M atpleasure; and, again, if it is desired to make the reservoir B more effective, more air may be pumped into the reservoir B through the stop-cock Z, which will be afterward closed.

The construction of the reservoir B may be changed, without altering its operation, by substituting other mechanical equivalents for the slides M, O, and H, which may be placed inside of the reservoir B, and operated by iron rods passing through the top of B. A is a cap for reservoirB resting on the brackets I I, designed to keep the water cool and protect the Workin g parts of the mechanism. These reservoirs are intended to be placed at intervals, as may be needed at any points between the source of supply and the termini of the main Water-pipes, or, when it is desired, inside of buildings supplied with water.

The reservoirs B may be made of the same size as ordinary cistcrns, or any other size,

and, by cutting off the supply1 at D and lowering hose through the opened man-hole C, the reservoir BV may be used in the same way as the ordinary cistern.

Fig. 4 shows a modification which may be made in the mode of closing the orifice D by means of a Hap-valve inside of the reservoir B.

If we suppose the system of reservoirs B B to be filled While the pressure upon the Water in the main pipes is at its maximum, and that the connection between said reservoirs and main pipes is cut off, as described, then, al-

though the pressure in the main pipes should be diminished, and even if accidents should happen to the machinery or main pipes, there would still be a supply of water on hand from the reservoirs and pipes in connection with them under a heavy pressure, which would last for a considerable time.

From the foregoing explanations the advantages gained by the improvements described in this specification are manifest, inasmuch as they will secure amore permanent and sure supply of water under a better and more uniform pressure than can be maintained Without J(.hern, Where there is not a sufficient head of Water at the source of supply to create enough pressure at al1 times.

sliding` gates M and 0, 01 their mechanical equivalents, when operated substantially as described, for the purposes specified.

What Ic1ajimis WILLIAM HENRY MORRISON. The pressure-reservoirs B B, having the in- Witnesses: let-Opening D, connecting with the main pipe, F. rIOM JOHNSON,

and the out1et-opening E, and stop-cock Z,and S. B. GRUBBs. 

